Husband of bicyclist killed in 2003 police chase files suit
Submitted by Brent Hugh on Wed, 10/03/2007 - 6:32pm
According to a Fox 4 news story:
The motorist who killed Sena while fleeing from police pled guilty and was sentenced for 2nd-degree murder.
Citizens, including representatives of Kansas City's bicycling community, were successful in getting substantial changes to Kansas City, Missouri's police pursuit policy.
However, despite the new policy, advocates say that KCMO police still continue to pursue in too many situations where the situation leads to extreme danger to police, fleeing drivers, and innocent bystanders.
And most other police departments in the state and region have pursuit policies far more lax than KCMO.
Some sobering facts about police pursuits:
* Over 14,000 crashes a year are caused by police pursuits
* About 1/3 of pursuit injuries and fatalities are to innocent bystanders
* Many pursuits end in injuries or fatalities to police officers
* It is possible for police departments to adopt pursuit policies that
- still allow pursuit when actually necessary
- minimize deaths and injuries of innocent bystanders and police officers
- still allow apprehension of criminals (most often hot pursuit is not the best way)
More about the issue of police pursuits, and why police departments should adopt and strictly follow more stringent police pursuit policies, from a St. Louis County police officer.
It was a police chase that ended in tragedy when a woman killed riding her bike. Her husband has filed suit against the man who hit her and Kansas City police.According to Denny, other police departments around the metro area and state still have police pursuit policies that lead to needless injuries and deaths while providing little or no police enforcement benefit.
Biking was a passion for Toni Sena, but in a blink of an eye it all changed and now her husband hopes to prevent it from happening to anyone else. . . .
Police were chasing the suspect following a disturbance call. Since then the way police chase suspects has changed but Denny said that is not enough.
"I don't think the guy would have done all of this crazy stuff if the police would not have continued to chase him," he said.
Denny filed suit against the KCMO department a year ago. That case was dismissed, but as of Tuesday he has filed another suit. This time he hopes not only Kansas City Police but other jurisdictions will learn a lesson from their actions.
The motorist who killed Sena while fleeing from police pled guilty and was sentenced for 2nd-degree murder.
Citizens, including representatives of Kansas City's bicycling community, were successful in getting substantial changes to Kansas City, Missouri's police pursuit policy.
However, despite the new policy, advocates say that KCMO police still continue to pursue in too many situations where the situation leads to extreme danger to police, fleeing drivers, and innocent bystanders.
And most other police departments in the state and region have pursuit policies far more lax than KCMO.
Some sobering facts about police pursuits:
* Over 14,000 crashes a year are caused by police pursuits
* About 1/3 of pursuit injuries and fatalities are to innocent bystanders
* Many pursuits end in injuries or fatalities to police officers
* It is possible for police departments to adopt pursuit policies that
- still allow pursuit when actually necessary
- minimize deaths and injuries of innocent bystanders and police officers
- still allow apprehension of criminals (most often hot pursuit is not the best way)
More about the issue of police pursuits, and why police departments should adopt and strictly follow more stringent police pursuit policies, from a St. Louis County police officer.
Join MoBikeFed's Advocacy Network
MoBikeFed is a statewide group of people like you, working together for better bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri. When you join our advocacy network you receive occasional important advocacy alerts and bicycle, pedestrian, and trails news from around Missouri.
Working together we make a real difference! Join our advocacy network:
Working together we make a real difference! Join our advocacy network:
Related pages
Current topics...
Archives...
Want better bicycling and walking in Missouri?
We rely on the support of members like you. Please join, renew, or donate today.
- Home
- JOIN/DONATE
- News/Info
- Missouri Bicycling, Running, Trails
- Bicycle Skills and Safety
- Missouri Bike/Ped Law
- Clubs and Organizations
- Bike Shops
- Running Shops
- Bicycling, Running, Trails-related Businesses
- Ride, Run, Walk, Hike, Triathlon, and Events Calendars
- Bicycles on Amtrak
- Maps and Routes
- Trails and Trail Maps
- IBikeMO.org
- Planning a Missouri bicycle trip
- Gravel and Bikepacking Maps & Routes
- Bicycle & Touring Routes
- Advocacy
- Campaigns
- Our Legislative Platform
- Complete Streets
- Statewide Rock Island Trail
- Statewide Trail Vision - Quad State Trail
- Bicycle Friendly Missouri
- Walk Friendly Missouri
- Safe Routes to School
- MoDOT funding crisis
- High Priority Bike/Ped Project List
- Anti-harassment laws in cities & statewide
- Updating the basic bicycle law
- Our Vision for MoDOT
- Our Vision for MPOs/RPCs
- Our Vision for Cities & Counties
- Bicycle, pedestrian, trails plans across MO
- Protecting Vulnerable Road Users
- Vision Zero
- Missouri Trail Towns
- Store
- About